The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-04
ROMAN CANDLES AS WEAPONS Or
OFFENSE AND DEFENSE.

4 Frontier Incident In Western Kansas.
RepelIing Night Attack OF Indians
and Greasers-A Terrorixed Foe-A
Timely Precaution.
"One of my adventures, chg began the
book agent, the others settled into their
seats more comfortably. well, about eight
years ago carried a pack of novelties, such
as you frequently see exhibited ON the street
corners and presided over by sunburned
Italian. With another man and a young fell
low of Is, l travelled through Kansas TO the
Colorado line, selling and trading our wares
to the Indians for anything marketable in the
cities. About the time of our arrival in the
western part of Kansas the memorable In
dian outbreak was terrorizing the country.
From the south and west came reports of the
terrible outrages perpetrated by the Indians
and greasers. Houses were burned, the in
mates were killed instantly or tortured TO
death and all the cattle were driven off and
scattered You may be sure | felt consider
able sOlicitude concerning the safety of my
little party and took extra precautions To
find secluded spots when camping. or
course, under the conditions, deemed it ad-
visable to get out of the neighborhood I'M
mediately. To do we found il necessary
infested by struggling bands of Indians. De
spite the risks we determined to make the at
tempt.
AFTER A DAYS TRAMP.
AFTER a long, hard days tramp, ell
camped for the night i'll one of those small can
yons so prevalent in western Kansas. IL was
an excellent place, too. Our backs were eff
fectually protected by a natural cave in the
side of thy bank, the entrance to which was
concealed by brush and tall grass. Sam, the
boy Of the party, was an unusually bright
young fellow and very familiar with the tao
tics of Indian warfare. just before lying
down i noticed him untying a good sized
bundle of sticks resembling short broom
handles. He placed them in easy reach and
tumbled down to sleep. l had also noticed
him fumbling around the bushes a short time
before, but didn't pay much attention TO his
actions. The other fellow and myself con-
cluded not to set a guard, as we were in such
an excellent place. | don't know how long
we had slept when we We're awakened by
Sam shaking us slightly and whispering:
BE quick now, the Indians are getting
ready to slip in on US
by this time were both wide awake and
ready with our rifles.
Listen whispered Sam: hear the dirty
S amps slipping up Put down the rifles. I've
got something better
He handed each of Us four of the sticks
mentioned, remarking:
"'Them's Roman candles. I've got pile
Of whoppers alofg and think we can srare
these scamps cleaSfou of their hides
THE CASDLEs FLASHED.
Il caught the idea i'm a moment and strained
my ears TO listen for further demonstrations
from the attacking party. We could hear
them creeping here and there through the
bushes, scarcely making noise, but easily
distinguished in the silence of the night.
Now whispered Sam. take two in each
hand and I'll light them
"Suitiug the action to the word, he con
trived to light them in rapid succession
Then we turned them into the bushes, and
heavens, what a sight was revealed as the
candles flashed. About fifty viIainous look
ing savages and greasers were STOPPING and
creeping along toward us. At the first flash
they stopped if spellbound. We turned
them so the green and white balls would
strike them i'll their faces. The candles Were
tremendous affairs, and eight or ten of them
popping away, apparently independent OF
human aid, was enough to terrorize any one
Our assailants wavered moment then, and
with terrible yell, bounded away toward
high ground as if the devil himself was in
pursuit We could hear them scramble ut
the hillside, mount their horses ard gallon
away. Sam afterward explained that he had
brought the candles along as a side specula
ton, and he also explained that he had ar
ranged system of strings among the bushes
so that no one could approach very clos,
| without meeting the obstruction and alarm
ing him. it is needless to state that w,
reached safe ground in due time, without fur
| Their molestation. Omaha Herald.